Fatal walkway collapse trial begins

An appeals trial has begun by the French builder of the giant luxury liner Queen Mary 2 and another construction company over the collapse of a walkway that killed 16 people, as victims' families called on the court to blame individuals for the tragedy.

By Henry Samuel in Paris

9:04PM GMT 23 Mar 2009

Shipbuilder Les Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Endel, which built the walkway, were each fined more than 178,000 euros (£166,000) for failings that led to the accident, which took place in November 2003, while more than 100 plaintiffs have won damages totalling 9.5 million euros.

But victims' families were furious after the court acquitted eight people – four employees of each company – who were facing up to three years' suspended jail sentences on the same charges.

The QM2 – the world's largest and most expensive liner at the time of its construction – was in dry dock at Saint Nazaire, western France, preparing for its maiden voyage, when the walkway collapsed, sending 45 people plunging 60 feet to the ground. Another 29 people were injured.

The two companies, the prosecution, victims' families and civil plaintiffs have filed the appeal before the court in Rennes, northwest France.

On day one of the appeals trial, the presiding judge castigated Endel for opting for a cheaper, less secure walkway, but said that Les Chantiers' work contained "numerous errors".

Les Chantiers' lawyers argued that the fault was with Endel's design. Endel, a subsidiary of Suez, claimed that the fault lay with Les Chantiers, as it allowed the public to use a walkway initially designed for maintenance staff." Yves Violette, president of the victims' defence association said: "The eight acquittals are unacceptable. There are errors, (but) nobody is responsible." Hearings are to last two weeks and a ruling is expected in the coming two months.